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Just wanted to say THANKS for all the tips about the resort mugs. On our previous trips only my parents have gotten them for their coffee but this next trip we will all get them with the Dining Plan. I was trying to figure out how to differentiate the mugs since I don't think my dad will go for the Sharpie on the visible part of the mug. He is a bit particular. And I don't want my drink to taste like coffee! I'm not sure which idea I am going to go with yet but all of the tips have been very helpful.

I do wish they could update the first post of this thread since some of the information seems to be out of date. I did read well over 50 pages of this thread (I skipped a few in the beginning) and I feel bad that you guys are always answering the same questions!

That being said, I do hope they have new mugs by our trip that is at the end of January. I'm sure they will have the current mugs until they run out (or decide to send them to Vero Beach) Don't worry, I won't ask when you think new mugs will be coming out or what colors the current mugs are.

If the picture on pg 91 is the most current, I hope they change designs in Jan 2013. I have 2 of this design from our trip in 2011 and hoping to get a new design on our trip the end of Jan 2013. We are getting it with the DP and love this souvenier!!!

We will have the Dining Plan when we arrive in November, which includes the mugs. We will be checking in late (probably around 10:00). If the food court is open, I was planning to send DS and DD to pick up our mugs for all five of us while hubby and I unpack. Will my kids be allowed to get all of our mugs or just theirs?

We will have the Dining Plan when we arrive in November, which includes the mugs. We will be checking in late (probably around 10:00). If the food court is open, I was planning to send DS and DD to pick up our mugs for all five of us while hubby and I unpack. Will my kids be allowed to get all of our mugs or just theirs?

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As long as they have the Disney dining plan card (your Key to the world card) they will be able to get all of them

I was wondering if there was an option to buy the refill mug but use disposable cups. I am on a medication that compromises my immune system so its best for me to use disposable cups, cutlery etc as I do at home. If I produce the receipt do you think Disney would object to me using a new paper cup of the same size each time?

You don't need your receipt to get a refill if you have the mug with you. The poster referring to using a receipt was referring to a particular place at the Boardwalk that does not put the drinks into the mug..they give you a paper cup because it is not a self fill station and they cannot take everyone's mugs behind the counter for sanitary reasons. Most of the time people stopping at this one placec can just pour the paper cup contents into their mug, but in the case that they don't want to take the mug to the parks with them, they just have the receipt and use the paper cup.

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I'm getting one free for having DDP so I won't have a receipt. Can I just have them swipe my card to show I have one instead of a receipt? My problem with the mugs is that I don't want to take them into the parks just to get my free refill on my way back to the room. This sounds like a great idea if it works.

I'm getting one free for having DDP so I won't have a receipt. Can I just have them swipe my card to show I have one instead of a receipt? My problem with the mugs is that I don't want to take them into the parks just to get my free refill on my way back to the room. This sounds like a great idea if it works.

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When you first get your cup using your card they will give you your mugs and give you a receipt showing that you picked them up. You have to have your cup with you to get a 'refill' so you would have to leave it in the room, and go get it After the parks, or bring it with you. Sometimes we leave ours in the room, but if we bring it with coffee in the morning we usually attach it to the straps on our backpack. Kind of a pain in the bu** but as far as I know and have heard, you have to have it with you.

We just returned from our trip to the Contemporary. We had our refillable mugs, and used them when we could. First off, picked them up from the cashier, where they were just sitting on the shelf. Dropped from my tray right away on the way to the filling station. The cup wash is just water, not soap. So, cup was not washed with soap whole time we were there. Of course, you are drinking out of a straw, but I'm sure this is not so sanitary. Also, Contempo Cafe, where the filling station was, closes at midnight. We got in many nights after midnight, enjoying EMH and long rides back from the different parks. Argued with front desk one night that we needed to get something to drink, yet nothing opened. Finally directed to a drink machine on the fifth floor. Happy to shell out the three bucks just for some hydration. Now am home with impetigo, which I blame a bit on being too cheap to buy fresh drinks and using the refillable mug. Will never again go to Disney without a car, where I can buy drinks for the room. Luckily, we just had an elevator ride to Contempo for refills, but can't imagine those in the sprawling resorts that have to walk miles to get a 12 ounce free drink. Yes, the size is deceiving. These drinks hold nothing. Not worth the time or the frustration. Only benefit was that when we ate at Contempo, we could get a drink for the room or for the bus ride to the park the next morning. Oh, and when did they change the rules that you could bring food and drinks into the park? If I'd known that, I would have bought not only a lesser meal plan, but also, rented a car and stopped at grocery to bring in drinks. Got dehydrated and passed out just on the walk from the Epcot monorail to the front gate. This is early October. Can't imagine how people handle the park in the summer. Also extremely disappointed by lack of assistance of park personnel for physical distress. But, this digresses from the cup discussion. I did see many people bringing cups into the park, hooked onto backpacks. Don't know what they were going to do with them, except maybe fill them from scarce water fountains. Disney really needs to do some overhaul of their hygiene and hydration. As a place that caters to children, and being familiar with the rules about hygiene and hydration for day care centers, I was shocked at how lacking Disney was in this regard.

We just returned from our trip to the Contemporary. We had our refillable mugs, and used them when we could. First off, picked them up from the cashier, where they were just sitting on the shelf. Dropped from my tray right away on the way to the filling station. The cup wash is just water, not soap. So, cup was not washed with soap whole time we were there. Of course, you are drinking out of a straw, but I'm sure this is not so sanitary. Also, Contempo Cafe, where the filling station was, closes at midnight. We got in many nights after midnight, enjoying EMH and long rides back from the different parks. Argued with front desk one night that we needed to get something to drink, yet nothing opened. Finally directed to a drink machine on the fifth floor. Happy to shell out the three bucks just for some hydration. Now am home with impetigo, which I blame a bit on being too cheap to buy fresh drinks and using the refillable mug. Will never again go to Disney without a car, where I can buy drinks for the room. Luckily, we just had an elevator ride to Contempo for refills, but can't imagine those in the sprawling resorts that have to walk miles to get a 12 ounce free drink. Yes, the size is deceiving. These drinks hold nothing. Not worth the time or the frustration. Only benefit was that when we ate at Contempo, we could get a drink for the room or for the bus ride to the park the next morning. Oh, and when did they change the rules that you could bring food and drinks into the park? If I'd known that, I would have bought not only a lesser meal plan, but also, rented a car and stopped at grocery to bring in drinks. Got dehydrated and passed out just on the walk from the Epcot monorail to the front gate. This is early October. Can't imagine how people handle the park in the summer. Also extremely disappointed by lack of assistance of park personnel for physical distress. But, this digresses from the cup discussion. I did see many people bringing cups into the park, hooked onto backpacks. Don't know what they were going to do with them, except maybe fill them from scarce water fountains. Disney really needs to do some overhaul of their hygiene and hydration. As a place that caters to children, and being familiar with the rules about hygiene and hydration for day care centers, I was shocked at how lacking Disney was in this regard.

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Just a couple of ideas that might help you next time, you can get a cup of free ice water at any DW QS location, DW is pysically tiring (5-8 miles a day of typical walking), a lot of people prep before they go by walking to get conditioned, we've been bringing food into the parks since 1987, the key to a successful DW trip is planning and research! Hope you have a better trip next time!

Just a couple of ideas that might help you next time, you can get a cup of free ice water at any DW QS location, DW is pysically tiring (5-8 miles a day of typical walking), a lot of people prep before they go by walking to get conditioned, we've been bringing food into the parks since 1987, the key to a successful DW trip is planning and research! Hope you have a better trip next time!

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Yes!^^^^ Also, you can pay Walmart one dollar for shipping. You can have water sent to your hotel bellhop by the case. If you don't like Wally World, as some don't shop there, there is Garden Grocer... And one more place I forgot the name of that will deliver water

We just returned from our trip to the Contemporary. We had our refillable mugs, and used them when we could. First off, picked them up from the cashier, where they were just sitting on the shelf. Dropped from my tray right away on the way to the filling station. The cup wash is just water, not soap. So, cup was not washed with soap whole time we were there. Of course, you are drinking out of a straw, but I'm sure this is not so sanitary. Also, Contempo Cafe, where the filling station was, closes at midnight. We got in many nights after midnight, enjoying EMH and long rides back from the different parks. Argued with front desk one night that we needed to get something to drink, yet nothing opened. Finally directed to a drink machine on the fifth floor. Happy to shell out the three bucks just for some hydration. Now am home with impetigo, which I blame a bit on being too cheap to buy fresh drinks and using the refillable mug. Will never again go to Disney without a car, where I can buy drinks for the room. Luckily, we just had an elevator ride to Contempo for refills, but can't imagine those in the sprawling resorts that have to walk miles to get a 12 ounce free drink. Yes, the size is deceiving. These drinks hold nothing. Not worth the time or the frustration. Only benefit was that when we ate at Contempo, we could get a drink for the room or for the bus ride to the park the next morning. Oh, and when did they change the rules that you could bring food and drinks into the park? If I'd known that, I would have bought not only a lesser meal plan, but also, rented a car and stopped at grocery to bring in drinks. Got dehydrated and passed out just on the walk from the Epcot monorail to the front gate. This is early October. Can't imagine how people handle the park in the summer. Also extremely disappointed by lack of assistance of park personnel for physical distress. But, this digresses from the cup discussion. I did see many people bringing cups into the park, hooked onto backpacks. Don't know what they were going to do with them, except maybe fill them from scarce water fountains. Disney really needs to do some overhaul of their hygiene and hydration. As a place that caters to children, and being familiar with the rules about hygiene and hydration for day care centers, I was shocked at how lacking Disney was in this regard.

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Yes,that is distressing. We have been going so many years that we now have a system in place. We order 5-6 cases of water to be delivered to our hotel from Costco or staples. Each of us puts 4 bottles in our back pack for the parks. I also have everyone take at least one zip fizz tube to put in their water mid afternoon. I also pack a Baggie of dish washing cloths to take on the trip. I tear off sheets of paper towel (# days of trip). On each sheet I place one drop of dish soap, fold or roll up the sheets and put them in a Baggie. Take a sheet out each day and wet it and wash the mugs.
You can also get cups of ice or water from any counter service location at the parks.

We just returned from our trip to the Contemporary. We had our refillable mugs, and used them when we could. First off, picked them up from the cashier, where they were just sitting on the shelf. Dropped from my tray right away on the way to the filling station. The cup wash is just water, not soap. So, cup was not washed with soap whole time we were there. Of course, you are drinking out of a straw, but I'm sure this is not so sanitary. Also, Contempo Cafe, where the filling station was, closes at midnight. We got in many nights after midnight, enjoying EMH and long rides back from the different parks. Argued with front desk one night that we needed to get something to drink, yet nothing opened. Finally directed to a drink machine on the fifth floor. Happy to shell out the three bucks just for some hydration. Now am home with impetigo, which I blame a bit on being too cheap to buy fresh drinks and using the refillable mug. Will never again go to Disney without a car, where I can buy drinks for the room. Luckily, we just had an elevator ride to Contempo for refills, but can't imagine those in the sprawling resorts that have to walk miles to get a 12 ounce free drink. Yes, the size is deceiving. These drinks hold nothing. Not worth the time or the frustration. Only benefit was that when we ate at Contempo, we could get a drink for the room or for the bus ride to the park the next morning. Oh, and when did they change the rules that you could bring food and drinks into the park? If I'd known that, I would have bought not only a lesser meal plan, but also, rented a car and stopped at grocery to bring in drinks. Got dehydrated and passed out just on the walk from the Epcot monorail to the front gate. This is early October. Can't imagine how people handle the park in the summer. Also extremely disappointed by lack of assistance of park personnel for physical distress. But, this digresses from the cup discussion. I did see many people bringing cups into the park, hooked onto backpacks. Don't know what they were going to do with them, except maybe fill them from scarce water fountains. Disney really needs to do some overhaul of their hygiene and hydration. As a place that caters to children, and being familiar with the rules about hygiene and hydration for day care centers, I was shocked at how lacking Disney was in this regard.

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I don't understand why, even if you were being cheap, that you couldn't just fill your mugs up with water? I've never had any trouble finding a drinking fountain when I have wanted one. And at your resort, why not just fill you mugs up with water in your room?

If you were on a dining plan, why not use a snack credit for a drink in the park? I think a lot of your problems have to do with not understanding the dining plan. And as far as hygiene of the mugs goes, I never worried about it. But I never worry about it at McDonalds either. I'm not sure why you get drinks from that have the cups sealed before use. But if it truly concerned you why not was them out in your room before using them?

I was totally unprepared and ignorant, having not been to Disney for 30 years, and I was distressed over this turn of events as I have a good friend bringing her two little ones for Thanksgiving.

Yes, I was happy to use my snack credits to buy drinks at the park. I was distressed that I had to walk so far before I could find either a vendor or a water fountain!

I am so used to places not allowing outside food and drinks, I assumed Disney would be the same.

Well, you know what they say about the word "assume".

I will alert my friend to bring water, have it available, and even have snacks.

She is under the impression there will be a grocery store she can shop at at Downtown Disney.

As for the washing of the cups, that was my own stupidity. I will know for next time to bring dish soap and wash the cups, or I'll spend the money on fresh drinks.

In short, I'm not going to risk infection just to save a couple of bucks on free drinks.

We were in the Contemporary, a regular deluxe room, and I'm not used to staying at such a fancy place. I usually stay at a Residence Inn, where I have a kitchen and refrigerator and dishwasher and dish soap.

But Hubby wanted to have the Deluxe Contemporary experience, and it was not good for such a long stay.

We broke the bank on this trip, and will probably never take another trip to Disney again, but please, don't think this was a bad trip! We had a great time with our character breakfasts and signature dining before I got wiped out, and I don't regret a minute of it, just kicking myself for my own stupidity. And despite feeling like crud, I rode all the rides I wanted to and even rides I never dreamed I would try, like Yeti and Tower of Terror and Splash Mountain!

Just commenting on this thread to caution others to be sure to keep yourself hydrated, try to be as hygienic as possible, and have an emergency plan should someone in your party need medical attention.

I was totally unprepared and ignorant, having not been to Disney for 30 years, and I was distressed over this turn of events as I have a good friend bringing her two little ones for Thanksgiving.

Yes, I was happy to use my snack credits to buy drinks at the park. I was distressed that I had to walk so far before I could find either a vendor or a water fountain!

I am so used to places not allowing outside food and drinks, I assumed Disney would be the same.

Well, you know what they say about the word "assume".

I will alert my friend to bring water, have it available, and even have snacks.

She is under the impression there will be a grocery store she can shop at at Downtown Disney.

As for the washing of the cups, that was my own stupidity. I will know for next time to bring dish soap and wash the cups, or I'll spend the money on fresh drinks.

In short, I'm not going to risk infection just to save a couple of bucks on free drinks.

We were in the Contemporary, a regular deluxe room, and I'm not used to staying at such a fancy place. I usually stay at a Residence Inn, where I have a kitchen and refrigerator and dishwasher and dish soap.

But Hubby wanted to have the Deluxe Contemporary experience, and it was not good for such a long stay.

We broke the bank on this trip, and will probably never take another trip to Disney again, but please, don't think this was a bad trip! We had a great time with our character breakfasts and signature dining before I got wiped out, and I don't regret a minute of it, just kicking myself for my own stupidity. And despite feeling like crud, I rode all the rides I wanted to and even rides I never dreamed I would try, like Yeti and Tower of Terror and Splash Mountain!

Just commenting on this thread to caution others to be sure to keep yourself hydrated, try to be as hygienic as possible, and have an emergency plan should someone in your party need medical attention.

We just returned from our trip to the Contemporary. We had our refillable mugs, and used them when we could. First off, picked them up from the cashier, where they were just sitting on the shelf. Dropped from my tray right away on the way to the filling station. The cup wash is just water, not soap. So, cup was not washed with soap whole time we were there. Of course, you are drinking out of a straw, but I'm sure this is not so sanitary. Also, Contempo Cafe, where the filling station was, closes at midnight. We got in many nights after midnight, enjoying EMH and long rides back from the different parks. Argued with front desk one night that we needed to get something to drink, yet nothing opened. Finally directed to a drink machine on the fifth floor. Happy to shell out the three bucks just for some hydration. Now am home with impetigo, which I blame a bit on being too cheap to buy fresh drinks and using the refillable mug. Will never again go to Disney without a car, where I can buy drinks for the room. Luckily, we just had an elevator ride to Contempo for refills, but can't imagine those in the sprawling resorts that have to walk miles to get a 12 ounce free drink. Yes, the size is deceiving. These drinks hold nothing. Not worth the time or the frustration. Only benefit was that when we ate at Contempo, we could get a drink for the room or for the bus ride to the park the next morning. Oh, and when did they change the rules that you could bring food and drinks into the park? If I'd known that, I would have bought not only a lesser meal plan, but also, rented a car and stopped at grocery to bring in drinks. Got dehydrated and passed out just on the walk from the Epcot monorail to the front gate. This is early October. Can't imagine how people handle the park in the summer. Also extremely disappointed by lack of assistance of park personnel for physical distress. But, this digresses from the cup discussion. I did see many people bringing cups into the park, hooked onto backpacks. Don't know what they were going to do with them, except maybe fill them from scarce water fountains. Disney really needs to do some overhaul of their hygiene and hydration. As a place that caters to children, and being familiar with the rules about hygiene and hydration for day care centers, I was shocked at how lacking Disney was in this regard.

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We are one of those Family's(me and my DS) that brings our cups with coffee in the morning rinse them out tie them onto our packs. Use them for water or POP with Ice (ice we can get free at any of the counter service). Hygiene, we are no where as concern as you where and we did OK, no body sick here maybe to over worried? just saying. I also bring the wipes but only use them after eating or drinking something that's messy, never gave it a second thought other wise. We always come back after midnight and everything close up, so that's why we always have drinks in the room, was this your first time at WDW? and you did not know they close up. I can see why you would be up set then, but again why get up set?, just go to the pop machine at least for the first night

.Has there been any word as to when they will be getting new mugs. We have ,1)2 of the current mugs. Last trip we tried to give away our mugs but there were no takers. We will be at WDW Jan 2-14 2013 and will get another 4 mugs with the DDP. Really hoping for a new design.